Unit 4 Clause-as-message, and information unit Grammar presentation given on 28 29.v.2013 Angewandte Sprachwissenschaft Universität des Saarlandes 4.1
.1.2.3.4 4.2
The learning goals for today s session are:.1 To learn to analyse clauses into Theme and Rheme. 4.3
The learning goals for today s session are:.1 To learn to analyse clauses into Theme and Rheme..2 To learn to analyse information units into Given and New. 4.3
Theme: an ambiguous definition Thema [topic] In der Thema-Rhema-Gliederung der Mitteilung bzw. der Äußerung der (kommunikative) Ausgangspunkt, die Basis zur Entfaltung des Mitteilungsgehalts des Satzes: das Bekannte oder das durch Situation oder Kontext Gegebene; der Teil der Äußerung, der weniger Information enthält als das Rhema. T. ist das, worüber etwas mitgeteilt wird, und auch das, was aus Kontext und Situation ableitbar ist; Rhema is das, was über das Thema mitgeteilt wird, was aus Kontext und Situation nicht ableitbar ist die neue Information (Daneš 1970, 1976). Th. Lewandowski: Linguistisches Wörterbuch 3. Heidelberg/Wiesbaden: Quelle & Meyer [UTB 1518]: 1990 (5., überarbeitete Auflage). 4.4
Theme: an ambiguous definition Thema [topic] In der Thema-Rhema-Gliederung der Mitteilung bzw. der Äußerung der (kommunikative) Ausgangspunkt, die Basis zur Entfaltung des Mitteilungsgehalts des Satzes: das Bekannte oder das durch Situation oder Kontext Gegebene; der Teil der Äußerung, der weniger Information enthält als das Rhema. T. ist das, worüber etwas mitgeteilt wird, und auch das, was aus Kontext und Situation ableitbar ist; Rhema is das, was über das Thema mitgeteilt wird, was aus Kontext und Situation nicht ableitbar ist die neue Information (Daneš 1970, 1976). Th. Lewandowski: Linguistisches Wörterbuch 3. Heidelberg/Wiesbaden: Quelle & Meyer [UTB 1518]: 1990 (5., überarbeitete Auflage). But this definition is ambiguous (!!!) 4.4
The concepts Theme (what the message is about) and Given (that which is derivable from the situation or the context) are kept distinct. 4.5
The concepts Theme (what the message is about) and Given (that which is derivable from the situation or the context) are kept distinct. Theme is treated as a function in the structure of the clause-as-message ( Theme Rheme structure ). 4.5
The concepts Theme (what the message is about) and Given (that which is derivable from the situation or the context) are kept distinct. Theme is treated as a function in the structure of the clause-as-message ( Theme Rheme structure ). To signal that you want something to be Theme in English, you put it first. 4.5
The concepts Theme (what the message is about) and Given (that which is derivable from the situation or the context) are kept distinct. Theme is treated as a function in the structure of the clause-as-message ( Theme Rheme structure ). To signal that you want something to be Theme in English, you put it first. Given is treated as a function in the structure of the information unit. 4.5
The concepts Theme (what the message is about) and Given (that which is derivable from the situation or the context) are kept distinct. Theme is treated as a function in the structure of the clause-as-message ( Theme Rheme structure ). To signal that you want something to be Theme in English, you put it first. Given is treated as a function in the structure of the information unit. Normally (but not always), one information unit coincides with one clause. 4.5
The concepts Theme (what the message is about) and Given (that which is derivable from the situation or the context) are kept distinct. Theme is treated as a function in the structure of the clause-as-message ( Theme Rheme structure ). To signal that you want something to be Theme in English, you put it first. Given is treated as a function in the structure of the information unit. Normally (but not always), one information unit coincides with one clause. The information unit is realized by intonation: one information unit is expressed as one tone group (or intonation unit ). 4.5
The concepts Theme (what the message is about) and Given (that which is derivable from the situation or the context) are kept distinct. Theme is treated as a function in the structure of the clause-as-message ( Theme Rheme structure ). To signal that you want something to be Theme in English, you put it first. Given is treated as a function in the structure of the information unit. Normally (but not always), one information unit coincides with one clause. The information unit is realized by intonation: one information unit is expressed as one tone group (or intonation unit ). The culmination of the New information is signaled by the Focus (informally: the main stress ) 4.5
Helmut Kohl went to Halle : shows all four possible ways Theme Rheme and Given New can map onto each other: http: //spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/halle.pdf 4.6
Helmut Kohl went to Halle : shows all four possible ways Theme Rheme and Given New can map onto each other: http: //spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/halle.pdf Helmut Kohl went to Halle (color): (similar to the above): http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ halle-farbe.pdf 4.6
Helmut Kohl went to Halle : shows all four possible ways Theme Rheme and Given New can map onto each other: http: //spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/halle.pdf Helmut Kohl went to Halle (color): (similar to the above): http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ halle-farbe.pdf Now comes the President here : worksheet http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ nowcomesthepresidenthere.txt.pdf 4.6
Helmut Kohl went to Halle : shows all four possible ways Theme Rheme and Given New can map onto each other: http: //spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/halle.pdf Helmut Kohl went to Halle (color): (similar to the above): http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ halle-farbe.pdf Now comes the President here : worksheet http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ nowcomesthepresidenthere.txt.pdf Textuality (four-page summary in English, to read for homework; will become part of chapter 4 of the coursenotes): http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ textuality.pdf 4.6
Helmut Kohl went to Halle : shows all four possible ways Theme Rheme and Given New can map onto each other: http: //spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/halle.pdf Helmut Kohl went to Halle (color): (similar to the above): http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ halle-farbe.pdf Now comes the President here : worksheet http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ nowcomesthepresidenthere.txt.pdf Textuality (four-page summary in English, to read for homework; will become part of chapter 4 of the coursenotes): http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ textuality.pdf one-page summary in German of the differences between Theme Rheme and Given New structure (slightly dogmatic): http://spence.saar.de/courses/grammar/unit04/ themrhem2.pdf 4.6
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, ( ) 4.7
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, ( ) Anyone who was raised in the Church of England knows that this is the beginning of a wedding ceremony, or to give it its official title: The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony. Matrimony, a.k.a. marriage, is one of the sacraments of the Church of England. But what is a sacrament? 4.7
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, ( ) Anyone who was raised in the Church of England knows that this is the beginning of a wedding ceremony, or to give it its official title: The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony. Matrimony, a.k.a. marriage, is one of the sacraments of the Church of England. But what is a sacrament? A sacrament is defined in the Catechism of the Church of England as an outward and visible sign of an inward and visible grace. (The word sign here really means signifiant ; the grace (= gift from God) is the signifié.) 4.7
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, ( ) Anyone who was raised in the Church of England knows that this is the beginning of a wedding ceremony, or to give it its official title: The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony. Matrimony, a.k.a. marriage, is one of the sacraments of the Church of England. But what is a sacrament? A sacrament is defined in the Catechism of the Church of England as an outward and visible sign of an inward and visible grace. (The word sign here really means signifiant ; the grace (= gift from God) is the signifié.) The groom says the following words: With this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my wordly goods I thee endow 4.7
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, ( ) Anyone who was raised in the Church of England knows that this is the beginning of a wedding ceremony, or to give it its official title: The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony. Matrimony, a.k.a. marriage, is one of the sacraments of the Church of England. But what is a sacrament? A sacrament is defined in the Catechism of the Church of England as an outward and visible sign of an inward and visible grace. (The word sign here really means signifiant ; the grace (= gift from God) is the signifié.) The groom says the following words: With this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my wordly goods I thee endow What comments would you make on the order of the parts of each clause? And what intonation would you use if you were saying this aloud? 4.7